About 5 years has passed since I was reincarnated.

Living this past years within an orphanage, I learned a lot of things.

The world that I'm currently in now was known as Iarica. I don't know if that was the name of the planet or the continent.

In any case, the inhabitants living in this world were divided between six races; Hyerian, Elzoren, Daemo'se, Ow'roon, Vyx'ue and Maste. Each with their own language, culture, and history.

In addition to that, the entire land were populated by various kingdoms though most of the government were absolute monarchies.

Sigh, I wish there was one with a democratic type of governance here.

The social workers in the institution who were dressed in a nun-like attire did a great job in teaching children, though the learning that I had attained was more of my own doing.

Sneaking in the library at night when everyone were asleep.

That venture started when I was 2 years old, where my legs and waist were strong enough for me to walk on my feet.

At that time my mind was occupied with one thought: “Why did my parents abandon me?”

It was a stinging feeling. Like a needle poking into your chest.

In order to find the answer, learning this world’s words was my first assignment.

Though I did find my answer, it left a bad taste in my mouth.

Normally upon or after birth, a child or infant would undergo a test conducted by an adult, mostly by a Cleric to determine his or her mana capacity by placing several piece of crystals known as Kuvala.

These magic stones or should I call it magicite had unique properties that allowed them to store a certain amounts of mana in the air by unknown means.

The test which was called "Felgm" in the Hyerian language was a procedure intended to establish the capacity of a newborn to manipulate the mana within his or her surroundings by lifting the Kuvalam without physical contact.

The amount of Kuvalam that was lifted would determine the amount of magic power a person has.

The many the better.

And for a person who utterly fell on such procedure, they had label for me.

Unsorcerer.

That was the term for an individual who couldn’t utilize magic. Often, this person was colloquially referred as the “Unblessed One”.

A person who was denied favors by this world’s Gods. It was stated that if an “Unsorcerer” was born, the world will plunge into total chaos and disarray.

In other words, a manaless person. A harbinger of death and destruction.

A pariah within the world of Magic.

That was why I was known here as Zabio which literally means zero. Well, I can't argue the fact that out of the people in here I'm the only one with no talents in magic.

The fact that Magic was a reality in this world didn’t surprise me considering that I was briefed about this world before coming here.

Learning this piece of information, I came to understand the motives behind my disownment and the look of fears and disgusts that each and every personnel within this institution gave me.

Although the head of the orphanage was nice to me every time she would approach me, I knew that within a given time I would be forced to leave the institution.

Such scenario wasn’t far from happening, considering that currently some children and personnel were diagnosed with an invading sickness. The head nun too, was struck with such ailment.

“How are they?”

“They’re stable now. It seems that their mana pool has vanished for unknown reasons. The Head is fine though the children will need more time to recover. Normally when we’re tired, we unconsciously use Mana to supply our body with energy. The kids weren’t just use to just relying on their energy reserves which caused them to faint when their pool were drained.”

“Is it permanent?”

“Actually we don’t know for sure…”

Listening on the exchange conversations between the Cleric and Ms. Vila’s subordinate, I went back to my secluded room after the male Cleric give me an odd stare.

I know the meaning of that stare and the message that it tried to conveyed.

He was blaming me. Blaming me for such an outbreak.

Presently, the country was under a state of panic due to an unknown disease that was spreading in the kingdom.

And the officials deduced that it came from here.

Note that when I said here, it equates as me.

I should be angry but knowing better, I only sighed in disbelief. I already traversed this same kind of treatment back when I was a child on Earth.

I remember one time during a typhoon disaster, how a politician blame the community for not emphasizing on building formidable homes while the citizens blame the government for not giving them the right amount of funds for building such architecture.

Both parties accused each other for negligence when in fact, both of them were at fault.

Corruption and appointing incompetent government officials.

Guess that people were good on blaming at others maybe because they find it hard to blame themselves for their own mistakes.

So something like this was like a daily occurrence, a normalcy which I grew up with.

Staring at my old creaked room located at the far most end of the orphanage, away from the workers’ and orphans’ quarters, I sat on my wooden bed and started to stuff my sack with some of my belongings.

Personal items such as clothes and underwear to name a few.

It won’t take long before I would be kicked out from the orphanage under the king’s orders.

The country where I live in, the Kingdom of Vruedipis knows about me being an Unsorcerer hence, why there were royal guards securing the orphanage every now and then. I can’t pinpoint when exactly did they know about me but I was pretty sure that it started when the royal family visited the institution.

The Azola E Eccuriim or “Home of Peace” in English, was an orphanage were the Kingdom’s various nobles and families sought orphans to adopt in their families. Such cause was very noble indeed, though a part of me was very skeptic about it knowing how peerages were very common in this country.

Within my generation, I was the only one left in the residential institution. I could attribute it on me being an “Unblessed One” and revealing my existence could warrant animosity and trouble for the country from other nations of Iarica, so every time families would visit and adopt someone, I would be excluded from the selection, staying in my room until it was safe for me to go out.

Not that I could protest about it. Knowing my current predicament, the chance of me being adopted was a clear zero percent.

Thinking about it, I wonder how Fiora was doing these days… She was the only friend I had before she was adopted by a very wealthy family a few months ago.

I hope that she’s doing well.

--

In any case, after securing my belongings I went back to my daily business.

After learning that I can’t use Magic or manipulate Mana, I took the liberty and time to consult the Otaku hidden within me instead of sulking and cursing the world for such unfairness.

There was no need to do that considering that I have a mentality of a 39 year old adult, who had already accepted that unfairness was prevalent in every world. Earth was such an example.

Gathering various information that I gained from reading various fantasy and sci-fi themed Light Novels and comparing them with the structure and mechanics of this world that I accumulated, I came to a conclusion.

Though I’ve been doing such task for almost 3 years and without any assurance that such things were achievable, the notion and existence of Mana and Magic urged me to continue such endeavor.

Magic, though non-existent in Earth, was a paranormal phenomenon that was a reality of this realm. The possibility of other paranormal forces could be a reality too in this world.

How highly accurate was such assumption, I don’t have any proof…

…But I have to try. I was sent here by One Above All for a reason.

A challenge. A formidable challenge, and I won’t falter.

There was no justification for running from such a venture. I’d been here before. I’d endured countless sufferings. Had been into war four times before achieving a degree in Software Engineering.

There was no way I would succumb to their disgust and hate.

With a bold determination, I sat on my bed cross-legged, closing my eyes as I delve, for countless times, deeper within the realm of my mind.

Hoping that such phenomenon that only appear in various fantasy fiction might exist.

With a calm release of breathing from my mouth, I plunge into my consciousness.

--

The Kingdom of Vruedipis…

A state located on the southeastern part of the Iarican continent, it was one of the many Hyerian countries and was ruled by the Vruedipis Royal Family which traces its roots back from the First Hero of the Hyerian-Daemo’se War, Aeriu.

Though a relatively small state bordering five other fellow Hyerian countries to the northeast down to the west, the country of Daemo’se to the southwest and the country of Elzorens to the south and the Surtem Sea to the east, Vruedipis boasts high economy due to its moderate policies and the tolerance of its government towards other races, mostly Elzorens.

The country was known as the “Isne E Vruedepe” due to its bright and warm weather, and its event in celebrating the “Vruedipa Salva”; a feast commemorated every Month of Arcus in the name of their patron Maste, Lirea.

Presently it was now the Month of Arcus and the citizens of the humble kingdom were supposedly preparing to welcome such great event once a year.

However, the Vruedipians were in distraught.

--

Inside his office the 48th King of Vruedipis, King Zeargivt Fot Vruedipis, had a sad and somewhat uncomfortable facial expression as he read for the third time the contents of the letter that the Health Minister personally handed to him.

“Are all of these… accurate?”

He asked the man standing in front of him as he stared his green emerald eyes. The 34 year old blonde king patiently waited for a confirmed answer as he read the letter again from top to bottom.

“Unfortunately it is, Your Majesty…”

The Health Minister, Qerx Vadl Berud, an old age man in his 70’s with long white hair, brown rondures and garbed in a white robe and wizard hat replied before pausing. Holding his wooden staff, the elderly male person wrinkled visage were portraying a distress as he continued his words,

“…My fellow clerics are now working without rest for a cure regarding with this hapless event. Though we can’t discern on how such disease was able to spread within the kingdom, we believe that it was brought out by several persons who visited the orphanage.”

“What are you trying to imply?”

At his king’s words, the old Qerx give his response though his message had some very heavy meaning.

“We need to kill the root, this instance.”

“Vadl, your telling me to execute a child… Which is prohibited under the Vruedipian law! Besides we aren’t certain if that kid was the one who brought this disease.”

“Your Majesty, I saw how you grew up from a weakling child up to the mighty and respected king that you were now. Just like your father, I stood by with his ideals. But today as rude as it may seem I will turn my back on that principle.”

“Vadl!”

“Please hear me out, Your Majesty! Your people are suffering right now. Your people… Your citizens… they are now suffering from an illness that drains their mana. You’ve read the report, haven’t you? 30 percent, Your Majesty. 30 percent! And as we speak, a lot more will be infected.”

Looking at Zeargivt who was still in second thoughts, Vadl Berud sighed and walked towards his best friend’s son, placing a hand on his shoulders.

“For the sake of the many, we must at least sacrifice one or in your case, principle. You are not the only one who is having this hard decision, Zear. The others deemed it as the best solution.”

The king shot a look to his once mentor and second father before looking at his Qerxm who despite with the displeased look in their faces, nod in confirmation to Vadl’s words.

“Killing a child is a sin in our teachings. But… know this. He is the Unsorcerer, the harbinger of death and a person cursed by Maste Lirea and the other Masta. And even if that child is unaware and innocent of the illness that he spread, we can’t turn a blind eye on this.”

“Your Majesty, this is a sin that I willingly to carry along with you.”

“If it is to save my daughter from her harrowing anguish, then I’ll stain my hand. Your Majesty.”

“I shall carry this burden with you, Your Majesty. No regrets!”

“I shall too!”

The declaration of the other Qerxm echoed throughout the whole four corners of the office stunned the king of Vruedipis.

For all of his life, Zeargivt had been a strong follower of the Vruedipian code that strongly discriminates from killing a child. An ideal that was fought by his predecessors and his father. He believe in that ethical code too, considering it as noble and grandeur belief.

But here, right now… He was now on the edge of his bearings as his sense of honoring the ethics that his forefathers stood for decades had been slowly overshadowed by his duty as a king and ruler of his citizens.

He furrowed his brows as he balled his fists in frustration. As he contemplates on his choices, the door to his office opened widely in a rush, a guard in tow who immediately knelt to the ground.

“How dare you interrupt this meeting you mere guardsman!”

“I’m sorry to interrupt Qerxm and Your Majesty. But I have an urgent news from the Queen!”

The guardsman hurriedly spoke. His message had brought concerns on the room.

“What is it?”

“It’s about the princess… She’s sick!”

Upon hearing this, all blood in Zeargivt’s face were drained.

--

Queen Ercell sat on the side of her daughter’s bed, her delicate and soft hands holding to her daughter’s small ones.

Her once beautiful face and shimmering purple eyes were now encapsulate with tears and concern, her heart felt as it was crushed by boulders every time she looked at her beautiful princess struggling for her life as the clerics with her tried their best to apply every healing magic that they had on the girl’s frame.

“Ercell!”

A familiar voice echoed, prompting the black haired queen to turn her head on the person who had entered her daughter’s room.

“Zear…”

“How was she?”

At her husband’s query, the only thing that the queen could do was to cry on the king’s chest.

“Zear… Fiora is… I can’t stand it watching her like this!”

Ercell said between sobs as she held his husband’s clothes with force and pain.

Zeargivt responded with a tight hug, his lips brushing against the smooth and silky hair strands of his wife.

“You don’t have to worry anymore. Our daughter’s suffering… the people’s suffering will cease any minute by now.”

The sobbing queen, upon picking up what her husband said, looked up…

…And only saw a painful expression.